how urgent ?

[eriko]

Hello! I just joined! I was diagnosed with hyperthyroid 5 days ago. I have an HMO insurance. I called the specialist today, but the earliest for a new patient is 31 days from today. How urgent is it to see the specialist? Can I wait the month? My symptoms are classic hyperthyroid, very edgy, anxious. sweaty, blood pressure normal, but pulse jumps from 57 to 112 throughout the day.

[utahmomma]

Fast heart rate, yes.  Slow one may be because of your beta blockers.  Big thing is to try not to stress yourself out MORE before you see a doctor!  Yeah, easier said than done, right?  :-)

[eriko]

Thank you for your words of advice. At this point, I don't know if I have Grave's disease. I don't have the numbers from my bloodwork either. My MD just called me and told me that I have an overactive thyroid. Thank you for easing my mind about waiting a month.

While waiting for my MD appointment, my betablocker is bringing down my blood pressure, but my heart continues to race and pound on occasion, and sometimes my pulse is low, 57. Is this common?

[utahmomma]

Did they run labs on you?  Do you have those results (with ranges)?  Do you have a diagnosis (Grave's disease, etc.)?

Typically hyper and hypo are a pain in the butt but aren't life threatening.  Here's a primer on thyroid conditions (click on the thyroid link then check out the hyperthyroid link from there):  http://www.endocrineweb.com/

A very rare complication of hyperthyroidism or thyroid treatment (RAI or thyroid surgery) can be thyroid storm.  This is very rare and usually only affects hyperthyroid patients if the condition goes untreated but it is something that we should be familiar with and clue our friends and family into:  http://thyroid.about.com/od/hyperthyroidismgraves/a/thyroidstorm.htm

Short story, a month isn't that bad for a new patient visit and you shouldn't have any problems waiting that long.

Welcome!